Self-rolling toy



June 12, 195] A. L. ALLISON SELF-ROLLING TOY Filed March 5, 1947 @JWNVENTOR.

Patented June 12, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncs Albert L. Allison, Rock Island, Ill.

Application March 5, 1947, Serial No. 732,476

' My invention relates to improved toys.

' The objects of. my invention are to provide a rolling toy weighted in such a way that it .will roll automatically. along the floor when stood up on edge; and when laid fiat on its base, the weights will roll to the center so as to put it in position to be re+set on edge to roll forward again; to provide transparent covering. by which the action of the weights can be observed; to provide an attractive toy in light form which will not marfurniture or woodwork.

I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my toy when standing on edge;

Figures 2 and 3 are half sectional views on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 showing two modifications. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My ,toy comprises a base I preferably of circular form and preferably half an inch to an inch in height at the periphery and sloping downwardly from all sides to the center; or the base may be formed of a thin plate l.l sloping downwardly to the center as shown in Figure 3. A circular sidewall: is mounted upon the base.

This sidewall mayz extend down to the top of the f base and be rigidly united thereto or, when the The inner end of the spiral partition extends to a point near the centerof the toy and thence outwardly in a spiral to a point spaced from the sidewall slightly more than the diameter of one of the weights hereafter mentioned.

One or more heavy balls 5 are seated upon the base, of such size as to roll freely along the spiral partition 4 when the toy is standing on edge as shown in Figure 1 and to descend by gravity to the center of the base when the toy is lying upon its base I as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In the operation of this toy, it is first laid flat upon its base I, when the ball or balls being acted upon by gravity will roll around the partition wall to the center of the base and into the position shown in Figure 1. The toy is then stood up on edge as shown in Figure l with the weight of the balls resting upon the spiral partition to the 6 Claims. (01. 4e 42) t 2 right of the center. The weight of the balls causes them to roll along the spiral partition in the direction shown by the curved arrow and at the same time causes the entire toy to roll forward on the table 6 in the direction shown by the straight arrow'.-

This rolling movement will continue until the balls have passed the outer end of the spiral and their inertia will carry them somewhat beyond that point. The toy may then be laid on its base and the slope of the base will cause the ball or balls to roll downwardly against the partition and follow the {spiral partition along to the center of the toy.

' The inner end of the spiral partition is located a short distance to one side of the center point so as to allow the ball to roll by the inner end of .it in seeking the lowest point at the center.

- In case a second ball is used, itwill also roll by the inner end of the partition and rest partly upon the first ball and partly upon the inner end of the spiral partition.

I prefer to make the sidewalls, the spiral partition and the cover plate of transparent plastic so that the movement of the balls can be readily observed. When the base is made in the form shown in Figure 3, the base also may be made of transparent plastic so that the movement of the balls can be observed from either side.

The sidewall may extend all the way around the toy below the base instead of being cut out to form legs as shown inFigure 3.

Either one or more balls may be utilized as desired. The balls may be made of steel, glass or any other material hard enough to withstand wear and having sufllcient weight to impel the 4 wall, a spiral partition mounted upon the base extending upwardly to the cover and running from a point near the center of the top of the base to a point spaced from the peripheral side wall, a weighted ball installed between the base and the cover arranged to roll to the inner end of the spiral partition when the base is placed rightside up in a horizontal position and to roll downwardly along the spiral partition from the center to the periphery when the toy is stood upon edge and so that the weight of the ball will cause the toy to roll forward upon its periphery at the same time.

2. In a rolling toy as described the combination with a circular base having its upper face inclined downwardly from its circumference to its center and with a peripheral side wall surrounding the base" andiextendingia'bove it, of a cover unitedto the top of the side wall, aspiral partition mounted upon the base extending upwardly to the cover with its inner end spaced a short distance from the center of the topr-of-the:

base and its outer end at a point spaced from the peripheral side wall, a weighted ball installed? between the base and the cover? arrangeditorolle to the inner end of the spiral partition when the base is placed rightside up in a horizontalpo'sition and to move downwardly along the spiral pa'rtitionf from the centery'when' the toy is stood uponedge so that -the weight of the ballrwill v cause the'toy. tor-roll forward. upon-its-periphery at tliezsame, time;

a; In a rolling; toyof thewclass described the combination with a circular base having its.up-'

per; face-inclined downwardly from its circumferenceto: its'center and with a peripheral side wallqsur'rounding the base: and extending above it,-a: transparent cover 'united; to the top of the side wall; a spiral partition mounted: upon: the:

base::ex-tending upwardlysto the cover Wi'th 'itSJ-lI'I-r' nerjendspaced ,a short' distance from the center of the top of the base and its outer end at a pointspaced fromthe peripheral: side; wall, a

weighted ball installedibetween the base andwthez ference toits' centerand with a peripheralside: wall surrounding; the base and extendingrabove;v

it, of a cover united-to: the top of: the side: wall,. aespiral partition mounted upon the base extenfdingupwardly to. the-cover with its inner end; spaced a short distance: from thecenter of thetop of the. base. and itsouterend at a point spaced from the-peripheral side wall, a weight installed between the: base: and the. cover arranged to roll tothe inner end=ofthe spiral partition when the base is placed rightside up in a:

Number N amer Date: a 581L052; Williams; .wApr; 6} 1893? 971,532 Fachmann 7 Oct. 4; 1910:

FOREIGN PATENTS g 55.. Number Country Date horizontal position and to move downwardly along the spiral partition from the center when the toy is stood upon edge 50 that the weight will cause the toy to roll forward upon its periphery at the same time.

5. In a rolling toy, the combination with a cylindrical outer wall or rim, of a circular base mounted therein and having its upper face inclined downwardly from its circumference to its centenaicoverunited to theltop of. the side wall, a spiral partitionmounted upon the baseextending upwardly to the cover with its inner end spaced a short distance from the center of the top ofzrtheibase and its outer end at a point spaced from the peripheral side wall, a weight installed between"- the base and the cover arranged to roll tothednnen end:,of.the spiral partition when the base is placed rightside up in a horizontal position'a'nw to move downwardly along the spiral partition from the center when the toy is stood upon edge: so that; the: weight: will: cause; the: toy

to. rollsforwarcl': upon its periphery at. the salne time.

6: In: a rolling; toy-;. the: combinationv with:- as flatstiredikezrimaupon whichzthel toy is adapted; torrrollpof a-"lcircularf'base united totheirirnsand-a= havingzits; upper: f ace: inclined downwardly from: itsicircumference to: its: center; a: cover united to; the; top of: the side wall;- a; spiral partition: mounted upon; the. base: extending? upwardly to; the cover with itsrinner: end spacedfa short'disi--:

its outeri'en'd at a: pointvspacedz from the". peev ripherali sides. wall, .a: weighted ball iristalledlzbetween the base and the cover: arrangedito: roll;

to;- theyinnen' endiofi the spirallpartition: whenitlie base: is: placedirightsidef uprrin alh'orizontal posittionra andi toi moves: downwardly along the: spiral partition from the center when' thel-toy isstoodl upon edgea'so" that theweight: of. the ball will cause: the; toy: to roll i forward. upon its periphery Germany-"dun June; 3*, 1919;:- 

